Split Enz – Frenzy

This was the first hint of the studio-polished Enz as well as the first glimpse of a much heavier, more electric sound to come. When this album was recorded, things were not going well for the band – they were stranded in England, broke, and shortly after their studio sessions, their instruments and equipment were lost in a fire just before a concert date in support of the new album. The resulting frustrations and tensions are evident on the music, which is harder-hitting all around. Neil Finn begins to make his voice heard on this album, which offers a preview of the band’s style in the 80s. The best bits from Frenzy include the Tim & Neil collaboration “Give It A Whirl”, the poignant “Stuff And Nonsense”, and the uncharacteristically heavy “Abu Dhabi” and “Mind Over Matter”.

1. I See Red (3:17)
2. Give It A Whirl (2:51)
3. Master Plan (3:09)
4. Famous People (2:53)
5. Hermit McDermitt (4:09)
6. Stuff and Nonsense (4:26)
7. Marooned (2:51)
8. Frenzy (3:03)
9. The Roughest Toughest Game in the World (3:43)
10. She Got Body She Got Soul (2:56)
11. Betty (4:43)
12. Abu Dhabi (4:32)
13. Mind Over Matter (2:57)

Released by: Mushroom
Release date: 1979
Total running time: 45:30